Celtic manager Martin O'Neill expressed a sense of uncertainty about his team's progress after a hard-fought Scottish Cup win over lower-league opposition, Auchinleck Talbot. Despite the victory, O'Neill felt he didn't gain much new insight into his squad, stating, 'I'm not sure I learned much more than I knew before.'
The match saw only one player retain his starting position from the previous game, with O'Neill giving opportunities to some of the team's less-used players. Stephen Welsh made his first appearance since December 2024, Michel-Ange Balikwisha was brought in, and Johnny Kenny was restored to the starting lineup.
While Kenny scored his sixth goal of the season, fans were left unimpressed by the team's performance, chanting 'sign a player' at the stadium. O'Neill acknowledged the team's shortcomings, saying, 'We should have played much better.'
Despite the lack of new signings so far in the January transfer window, O'Neill remains focused on strengthening the team. He hinted at ongoing negotiations, saying, 'We are making some progress and hopefully we will get the players in before the end of the season.'
The win maintained O'Neill's perfect domestic record since taking over the team following Brendan Rodgers' departure in October. This match provided an opportunity for O'Neill to assess players who hadn't been part of his regular lineup.
Former Celtic defender Jackie McNamara offered insight into why teams often leave Celtic with possession, stating, 'Most teams that play against Celtic are comfortable to leave them with possession as long as they don't play through the lines.'
Former Hearts striker Ryan Stevenson shared his thoughts on the starting lineup, suggesting that O'Neill and his staff will evaluate each player's performance. Stevenson noted, 'Martin will have learned a lot today about players who are on the fringes.'
Looking ahead, Kenny hopes his goal can spark a better run of form, particularly ahead of crucial European matches. He said, 'That's the life of a striker, you need to be ready when something comes.' Despite the recent challenges, Kenny remains optimistic about the team's potential.
